“The offence was pre-planned by convict Anil and he has motive to commit murder of the deceased,” the court said.

The court, however, said death penalty cannot be awarded to the convict as there was nothing on record showing that he cannot be reformed or that he was a menace to the society.

“I, therefore, sentence convict Anil to undergo rigorous life imprisonment under section 302 of the IPC and to pay a fine of Rs 20,000… It is ordered that out of Rs 20,000, Rs 15,000 will go to parents of the deceased,” the judge said.

The court also asked the legal service authority of west Delhi district to award appropriate compensation to the victim’s family.

Anil and Sanjay used to work a salesmen in a garments shop in west Delhi.

According to the police, the incident took place in June 2011, when a quarrel took place between Sanjay and Anil, who had threatened the former. After 2-3 days, a verbal altercation again broke out between them and Anil took out a butcher’s knife from his pocket and stabbed Sanjay, it said.

After assaulting the victim, the accused fled the spot and Sanjay was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead by the doctors.

During trial, Anil claimed that he was innocent and was falsely implicated in the case.

He also sought leniency in sentence on the ground that he belonged to a poor family and was the only earning member.